# Essentialism  Author:: Greg McKeown ## Highlights > Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. It doesn’t mean just doing less for the sake of less either. It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential. ([Location 105](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=105)) > The way of the Essentialist rejects the idea that we can fit it all in. ([Location 113](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=113)) > Essentialism is a disciplined, systematic approach for determining where our highest point of contribution lies, then making execution of those things almost effortless. ([Location 117](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=117)) > THE UNDISCIPLINED PURSUIT OF MORE ([Location 124](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=124)) > THE DISCIPLINED PURSUIT OF LESS Pauses to discern what really matters Says “no” to everything except the essential Removes obstacles to make execution easy ([Location 126](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=126)) > Many of us say yes to things because we are eager to please and make a difference. Yet the key to making our highest contribution may well be saying no. As Peter Drucker said, “People are effective because they say ‘no,’ because they say, ‘this isn’t for me.’ ”9 ([Location 292](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=292)) > The reality is, saying yes to any opportunity by definition requires saying no to several others. ([Location 557](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=557)) > Nonessentialists get excited by virtually everything and thus react to everything. But because they are so busy pursuing every opportunity and idea they actually explore less. ([Location 633](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=633)) > He does this because he knows his people can’t figure out what is essential if they’re constantly on call. They need space to figure out what really matters. ([Location 660](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=660)) > Play, which I would define as anything we do simply for the joy of doing rather than as a means to an end—whether ([Location 905](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=905)) > Becoming an editor in our lives also includes knowing when to show restraint. One way we can do this is by editing our tendency to step in. ([Location 1777](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=1777)) > The question is this: What is the “slowest hiker” in your job or your life? What is the obstacle that is keeping you back from achieving what really matters to you? By systematically identifying and removing this “constraint” you’ll be able to significantly reduce the friction keeping you from executing what is essential. ([Location 2065](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=2065)) --- Title: Essentialism Author: Greg McKeown Tags: readwise, books date: 2024-01-30 --- # Essentialism  Author:: Greg McKeown ## AI-Generated Summary None ## Highlights > Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. It doesn’t mean just doing less for the sake of less either. It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential. ([Location 105](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=105)) > The way of the Essentialist rejects the idea that we can fit it all in. ([Location 113](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=113)) > Essentialism is a disciplined, systematic approach for determining where our highest point of contribution lies, then making execution of those things almost effortless. ([Location 117](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=117)) > THE UNDISCIPLINED PURSUIT OF MORE ([Location 124](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=124)) > THE DISCIPLINED PURSUIT OF LESS Pauses to discern what really matters Says “no” to everything except the essential Removes obstacles to make execution easy ([Location 126](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=126)) > Many of us say yes to things because we are eager to please and make a difference. Yet the key to making our highest contribution may well be saying no. As Peter Drucker said, “People are effective because they say ‘no,’ because they say, ‘this isn’t for me.’ ”9 ([Location 292](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=292)) > The reality is, saying yes to any opportunity by definition requires saying no to several others. ([Location 557](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=557)) > Nonessentialists get excited by virtually everything and thus react to everything. But because they are so busy pursuing every opportunity and idea they actually explore less. ([Location 633](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=633)) > He does this because he knows his people can’t figure out what is essential if they’re constantly on call. They need space to figure out what really matters. ([Location 660](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=660)) > Play, which I would define as anything we do simply for the joy of doing rather than as a means to an end—whether ([Location 905](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=905)) > Becoming an editor in our lives also includes knowing when to show restraint. One way we can do this is by editing our tendency to step in. ([Location 1777](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=1777)) > The question is this: What is the “slowest hiker” in your job or your life? What is the obstacle that is keeping you back from achieving what really matters to you? By systematically identifying and removing this “constraint” you’ll be able to significantly reduce the friction keeping you from executing what is essential. ([Location 2065](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00G1J1D28&location=2065))